1927 - 2014 BRATTLEBORO Elisha (Eli) Prouty was born Feb. 17, 1927 and passed away peacefully at Pine Heights Nursing Home Nov. 20, 2014. He was the son of Elisha and Ethel Prouty of Brattleboro. He graduated from Brattleboro High School in 1945 and was inducted into the Army the same year where he served in Germany with the 252nd Engineer Corp. Upon his honorable discharge, he studied at the Vogue School of Design and at the University of Illinois in their design program (both in Chicago). Upon graduation, Eli became a textile designer and weaver specializing in wools - eventually becoming part owner of his own Textile Mill & Manufacturing Co. In 1955 he married his wife, Marjorie. They and their three children lived in Pelham, N.Y. & Winnetka, Ill. before retiring and coming back in 1985 to live in Grafton, Vt. In Grafton he became President and then Curator of the Grafton Historical Society. Eli, especially enjoyed working with little children and having the Kindergarteners come into the house to hear all about wool - The whole process from how it's shorn from the sheep, how it's spun and finally woven on looms. And, where later they each got a chance to give it a try. It was great fun. Eli was very active in helping & mentoring at other museums as well throughout Vt. with their display, projects and presentations. His eagerness to see all Vermont Historical Societies grow in sharing information and ideas helped to create the Vermont History Expo. The Vermont History Expo. is an event that provides Vt. Historical Societies a chance to creatively tell their own towns story to the public. He also enjoyed giving guilded tours in Vt., occasionally, for the Nat'l Trust of Washington, D.C. He is survived by his wife, Marge, daughter, Pamela, two sons, Bruce and his wife, Rosa and Peter and his wife, Darcy and his three grandchildren, Robert, Grant and Sarah. The family would like to extend their special thanks to Dr. Robert Backus & staff at Grace Cottage Hospital - To Ann Record & Patty Reardon, and to the staff at Pine Heights. At Eli's request there will be no formal funeral service. If friends desire, memorial gifts may be in his name to the Grafton Historical Society or Grace Cottage Hospital.
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